Winter Solstice from Newgrange Ireland

[Guest guest]

At dawn on Winter Solstice every year, just after 9am, the sun

begins to rise across the Boyne Valley from Newgrange over a hill

known locally as Red Mountain. Given the right weather conditions,

the event is spectacular.

At four and a half minutes past nine, the light from the rising sun

strikes the front of Newgrange, and enters into the passage through

the roofbox which was specially designed to capture the rays of the

sun.

For the following fourteen minutes, the beam of light stretches into

the passage of Newgrange and on into the central chamber, where, in

Neolithic times, it illuminated the rear stone of the central recess

of the chamber. With simple stone technology, these wonderful people

captured a very significant astronomical and calendrical moment in

the most spectacular way.

http://www.mythicalireland.com/ancientsites/newgrange/winter-

solstice-3.jpg

The photograph was taken in the chamber of Newgrange on December

21st 2003 by photographer Fran Caffrey.

[Guest guest]

At dawn on Winter Solstice every year, just after 9am, the sun

begins to rise across the Boyne Valley from Newgrange over a hill

known locally as Red Mountain. Given the right weather conditions,

the event is spectacular.

At four and a half minutes past nine, the light from the rising sun

strikes the front of Newgrange, and enters into the passage through

the roofbox which was specially designed to capture the rays of the

sun.

For the following fourteen minutes, the beam of light stretches into

the passage of Newgrange and on into the central chamber, where, in

Neolithic times, it illuminated the rear stone of the central recess

of the chamber. With simple stone technology, these wonderful people

captured a very significant astronomical and calendrical moment in

the most spectacular way.

http://www.mythicalireland.com/ancientsites/newgrange/winter-

solstice-3.jpg

The photograph was taken in the chamber of Newgrange on December

21st 2003 by photographer Fran Caffrey.

[Guest guest]

Cool! Hence our new opening picture.

[Guest guest]

Cool! Hence our new opening picture.